StumbleUpon for Internet Explorer

The StumbleUpon add-on for Internet Explorer wears a lot of hats–random site surfer, social networker, bookmarker, and site reviewer. It’s a powerful application for its size, although it’s much larger than the Firefox version.

Installation requires running the executable file, and removing this add-on from the new Explorer requires going through Windows’ Control Panel, whereas its Firefox cousin can be added and removed from within the browser.

Browser preference aside, both versions have the same toolbar. We struck no snags when used with other add-ons or programs. Once activated, one click is all it took to get going. The “Stumble!” logo whips the user around the Net at the user’s pace, based on categories selected during installation. Hundreds of topics are available and can be updated at will, with no selection limit.

The other StumbleUpon functions are just as user-friendly in the IE version as they are in Firefox. Ratings, sharing and reviewing sites, and updating the friends list are all accessible with just one click.

Sometimes, “stumbling” would take us to a StumbleUpon page that reminded us to upload a profile image or some other annoying-but-trivial nonsense. Another “stumble” would whisk us to our next random Web page.

If Web surfing is the new channel surfing, then StumbleUpon works as an outstanding remote.